Instructors

Leonard Hess, DDS

Clinical Director

Leonard A. Hess, DDS is the Clinical Director at The Dawson Academy and joined the faculty in 2009. He owns Union County Center for Comprehensive Dentistry in Charlotte, North Carolina, and practices full time in addition to teaching continuing education courses. He is a member of the editorial board for Inside Dentistry and has had over 17 articles published in peer-reviewed journals. He is also a member of the American Academy of Restorative Dentistry, AACD, ADA, AES, and NCDS. Dr. Hess began teaching continuing education courses in 2005 on topics including occlusion, smile design, treatment planning, preparation design, and practice integration of Complete Care Dentistry. He’s taught full-day continuing education courses at the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry’s national meeting, The Greater New York Dental Meeting, AACD National Meeting, Pacific Dental Conference, Ontario Dental Association meeting, and The Yankee Dental Conference. Dr. Hess has taught courses in Japan, Germany, Poland, China, and Canada.

Andrew C. Cobb, DDS

Director of the Core Curriculum

Dr. Cobb was born and raised in the Washington DC area and graduated from Georgetown University School of Dentistry in 1984. He joined the practice of his father, Dr. Everett Cobb, and maintains a private practice in the District of Columbia focusing on restorative and esthetic dentistry. Dr. Cobb is involved with a number of dental organizations including the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, the American Equilibration Society and is a Fellow in the International College of Dentists. In addition to maintaining his practice, Dr. Cobb volunteers extensively both nationally and internationally. He volunteers routinely with local dental clinics for the underserved in the DC area, the AACD “Give Back a Smile” program and Somos Amigos Medical Mission in the Dominican Republic. Dr. Cobb has been on numerous trips with Somos Amigos and is the dental coordinator for the mission. He has been recognized with numerous awards for his philanthropic efforts.

John C. Cranham, DDS

Clinical Director Emeritius

John C. Cranham, DDS has an esthetic oriented practice in Chesapeake, Virginia. An honors graduate of the Medical College of Virginia in 1988, Dr. Cranham maintains a strong relationship with his alma mater as an Associate Clinical Professor. He is an internationally recognized speaker on the Esthetic Principles of Dentistry, Contemporary Occlusal Concepts, Treatment Planning, Restoration Selection, Digital Photography, Laboratory Communication, and Happiness and Fulfillment in dentistry. As a published author, Dr. Cranham has a strong commitment to developing sound educational programs that exceed the needs of today’s dental professional. He is an active member of numerous professional organizations including the American Dental Association, The American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, The American Academy of Fixed Prosthodontics, and The American Equilibration Society. Dr. Cranham is co-chair of Advanstar Dental Media’s CE Advisory Board (Advanstar is the publisher of Dental Products Report). Dr. Cranham is the Clinical Director of The Dawson Academy where he is involved with many of the lecture and hands-on courses within the curriculum. As an active educator, he has provided over 650 days of continuing education for dental professionals throughout the world.

Scott Finlay, DDS

Senior Faculty

Dr. Finlay graduated with honors from University of Maryland, Baltimore College of Dental Surgery and a GPR program at a Washington DC Area Trauma Hospital. He was Accredited by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry in 2007 and received his Fellowship in 2010. He currently serves as an Examiner and was a past elected board member for the American Board of Cosmetic Dentistry as well as a Contributing Editor for the Journal of Cosmetic Dentistry presenting the Examiner’s Perspective. Dr. Finlay is a Senior Faculty Member for the Dawson Academy. He teaches contemporary functional concepts related to esthetics and restoring anterior teeth in a “hands on” format. Scott has contributed articles that have appeared in professional journals such as the Journal of Cosmetic Dentistry, Inside Dentistry and Vistas. He began his practice in Annapolis, Maryland in 1987 with a special emphasis on esthetic and restorative dentistry. He is also the author of the recently revised American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry’s “Contemporary Concepts in Smile Design” which serves as a basis for the criteria in evaluation and examination in the credentialing process. Accreditation through the American Board of Cosmetic Dentistry has become recognized as the gold standard of dental esthetics. Dr. Finlay is a Fellow in the Academy of General Dentistry, Past President of the Anne Arundel County Dental Society and a founding member of the local Pankey/Dawson Study Club. Dr. Finlay has been presented with 4 gold metals in the AACD annual Smile Gallery. He is perennially voted the Best Cosmetic/Restorative Dentist in both the Greater Annapolis and Baltimore areas by a jury of his peers. He has appeared on Baltimore FOX 45 Morning News and two other health television programs as an expert in dental esthetics. Dr. Finlay also the founder the Cosmetic Dream Team, LLC that locally serves as a community resource in all aspects of esthetics as well as hosting philanthropic events to benefit local charities. Dr. Finlay and his wife, Linda, have one daughter and live in Annapolis, Maryland. He enjoys golfing, skiing and competitive sailing.

Alessandro Conti, DDS

Dr. Conti graduated in Dentistry magna cum laude at the University of Pavia. He is visiting professor at the University of Pavia (Department of Restorative Dentistry) and he has held courses and congresses both in Italy and abroad and he is author of scientific publications on peer reviewed dental journals. He is an active member of the Italian Academy of Esthetic Dentistry and affiliate of the European Academy of Esthetic Dentistry (EAED).

Dr. Conti has established his private practice in Alessandria, Casale Monferrato, Genova and Melegnano cooperating with Dr.s: Domenico Massironi, Federico Ferraris and Roberto Rossi. His practice is limited to esthetic restorative dentistry and fixed prosthetics.

Neeraj Khanna

Dr. Khanna grew up in Toronto, Canada where he attended the University of Toronto and completed his Bachelor of Science degree (1989). He then continued post graduate school at the University Of Detroit Mercy- School Of Dentistry and earned is D.D.S. degree (1993). Dr. Khanna then completed a General Practice Residency at the University of Rochester-Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, New York (1994). After being an associate dentist for several years, Dr. Khanna opened his practice (March 2000) in beautiful downtown Geneva, Illinois.

Dr. Khanna completed training at the DAWSON ACADEMY (St. Petersburg, FL) in 2008 when he became a Dawson scholar. He has been faculty with the Dawson Academy since 2010, and is now a Senior Faculty member where he teaches all courses in the Core Curriculum. His training at the Dawson Academy has inspired him to dedicate his practice to excellence in comprehensive restorative and aesthetic dentistry. Dr. Khanna’s philosophy involves treating every patient in the four aspects of complete dentistry. This includes achieving harmony between jaw joints, muscles, supporting tissues, and teeth. His passion for complete dentistry has opened opportunities to share his knowledge. Dr. Khanna has lectured in many countries including the United States, U.A.E, India, Philippines, Thailand, and the Republic of Armenia. In 2020, Dr. Khanna was honored in publishing his first textbook titled “Functional Aesthetics: How to Achieve Predictable Aesthetic Results Using the Principles of a Stable Occlusion.”

MEMBERSHIPS: American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry; American Dental Association
American Dental Society of Anesthesiology American Equilibration Society; Dawson Academy – Senior Faculty Member; Fox River Valley Dental Society; Illinois State Dental Society; Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario

Glenn Dupont, DDS

Senior Faculty

Glenn DuPont, D.D.S. graduated from Emory University School of Dentistry in 1979, and joined the practice of Dr. Peter Dawson and Dr. Reuben “Pete” Roach in St. Petersburg, Florida. Since then he has been learning, practicing and teaching concepts of restorative dentistry. Dr. DuPont is a past president of the Pinellas County Dental Association and a founding member of the Dawson Center. He is a member of the American Academy of Restorative Dentistry and the American Equilibration Society and is involved with many other study groups and professional organizations. Dr. DuPont has lectured extensively both nationally and internationally.

Sergio Piano

DMD

Dentist. Focus areas: Implantology, Esthetic Dentistry, Digital Workflows. Graduation in Dental Medicine from the University of Genoa, Italy. Visiting Assistant at Geneva University, Switzerland in 1991-92 (Departments of Prosthodontics, Prof. Belser and Implantology, Prof. Bernard). Teacher in Postgraduate Program at Federico II Naples University, Italy (Master in Implantology), Marconi Rome University, Italy (Master in Computer-guided Surgery) and Brescia University, Italy (Master in Digital Dentistry). Director of Dr. Sergio Piano private dental clinic in Genoa, Italy. Regular national and international lecturer in more than 30 countries. Author of several scientific papers in the fields of Implantology and Esthetics. Active member of IAO (Italian Academy of Osteointegration) and IAED (Italian Academy of Esthetic Dentistry). Affiliate member of EAED (European Academy of Esthetic Dentistry), ITI Fellow and member of the Lead Team of the Italian Section with the role of Study Club Coordinator.

Larry M. Guzzardo

Larry began his 24-year career as a training specialist where he delivered in-house training programs such as active listening, customer service, stress management, and career development. Since turning to full-time dental consulting 22 years ago, Larry has focused his talents and experience exclusively on dental practice management, business systems, and leadership development. Larry has presented numerous workshop series including, “Winning Patient Acceptance,” “Business Communication Systems,” and “The Leadership Challenge.”
Larry provides comprehensive, personalized, in-office consulting exclusively to dentists and their staff. For the past two decades he has assisted professionals in achieving both financial and personal goals. His business and marketing systems focus directly on two main objectives: improving the bottom line and ensuring optimum patient care. He also goes a step further. He believes people are the most important asset of the practice, and has developed specific programs to create self-motivated team players whose actions reflect their commitment to the outcome of your practice.

Ian Buckle

Ian Buckle is the first International member of the teaching faculty at the Dawson Academy for Advanced Dental Education in St. Petersburg, Florida

As The Dawson Academy UK’s Clinical Director, Dr. Buckle lectures nationally and internationally on functional and aesthetic dentistry. He is involved directly with the hands-on courses of the Core Curriculum, seminars, & study clubs and provides continuing education to dental professionals more recently across Europe. He spends approximately two-thirds of his time in practice and the other third as an educator. He believes this balance keeps him on the leading edge of both disciplines.

Ian qualified from Liverpool University in 1985. He has over 30 years experience in general practice both in the Private sector and with the National Health Service. A member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD), British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (BACD), British Dental Association (BDA) and Association of Dental Implantology (ADI) he completes over 100 hours of postgraduate education every year.

Ian Buckle runs a Private Practice in the picturesque village of Thornton Hough on the Wirral concentrating on comprehensive reconstructive, aesthetic and implant dentistry. The Practice is the UK facility for The Dawson Academy located in a renovated 17th-century sandstone barn.